Chapter 5

I jerked my head up, my pupils trembling violently. Yana was laughing so hard she nearly fell over, shaking with delight. "Oh dear, you're nothing more than filth—carrying a bastard. Just like the whore you are. "Constance, how are you any different from those in the red-light district? At least they charge a few bucks, but you? You paid to have a bastard! "Is one enough for you? Or should we just cram a whole litter in there? Like a sow!" They howled with laughter. My mind roared in fury, and a metallic tang flooded my throat. With a furious scream, I grabbed a rock from the ground, ready to take them both down with me. However, Andrew kicked me square in the stomach. I crashed to the ground, vomiting blood. My face went ghostly pale from the pain. But at that moment, Yana suddenly stumbled back in apparent terror. She swayed dramatically before collapsing—even though no one had touched her. Just then, Maverick came sprinting over—stepping on my hand in his haste to reach her. He pulled her into his arms, his eyes brimming with naked concern. "Yana, are you alright? Are you hurt?" Yana let out a delicate whimper, tears shimmering in her eyes as she glanced at me. "Constance, I know I've wronged you... I just wanted to apologize properly, to wish you and Mavie well. Why would you hurt me like this? You know I only just found out I'm pregnant... "Even if you can't stand me, the baby didn't do anything wrong." She took Maverick's hand and, under his stunned gaze, shyly whispered, "Maverick… this child is…" She trailed off, lowering her lashes demurely—but the implication was clear. Surprisingly, Maverick didn't react with the excitement she'd expected. Instead, he watched her with an unreadable expression. Meanwhile, Andrew, seething with indignation, spoke up and said, "Maverick, Constance has been using her pregnancy as a shield. She outright called Ms. Joyner's baby a bastard and labeled her a tramp. "She outright cursed her and said she'd be dropping bastard after bastard like some filthy sow. She even threw a rock at Ms. Joyner! And when I stopped her, she threatened me with her baby, saying I'd hurt it and that you'd kill me for it. "It's fine if I have to take all this, but Ms. Joyner's so kind. She doesn't deserve to be treated like that!" Maverick turned to glare at me. The crimson fury in his eyes told me that no matter how I explained, he wouldn't believe me. "Constance, Yana saved my life. I've said it before—if anyone touches her, they'll answer to me. That includes you, even if you're my wife and pregnant with my kid." Pregnant with his child? I shakily rose to my feet and let out a bitter laugh. "Maverick, tell me—are you sure the child I'm carrying is even yours?" His face stiffened, a flicker of panic flashing across his features before he masked it with a defensive sneer. "If it's not mine, then whose do you wish it was? "Andrew, take her back and lock her up. No one is to let her out without my order." With that, he lifted Yana into his arms and walked away, not sparing a single glance behind. Andrew then crouched in front of me, gripping two sharp steel nails. His grin was full of menace. "Ever felt what one of our bone spikes can do? One hit, and that foot's done for. You'll be crawling on the ground like a pathetic worm for the rest of your life." I stared in terror, but he stomped on my foot and mercilessly drove both spikes into my ankles. The pain was excruciating. A scream tore from my throat just before darkness swallowed me whole. … When I woke up, two days had passed. My phone was flooded with Yana's gloating posts. In them, I saw a side of Maverick I'd never seen before in our three years together. The mighty mafia boss was cooking for a woman, washing her feet, and braiding her hair. He also fed her bite by bite and showered her with so many gifts that they filled the entire wall behind her. There were also images of them wandering through the amusement park and sharing a pastry. Their eyes were so tender that it felt like love shimmered in the space between them.